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Watford Football NewsTue, 26 Sep 2017 19:29:21 +0000en-GBhourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.2113898034Former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd dies at 75http://www.watfordfootball.com/?p=40227
http://www.watfordfootball.com/?p=40227#respondTue, 26 Sep 2017 19:29:20 +0000http://www.watfordfootball.com/?p=40227Freddy Shepherd, the former chairman of his boyhood club Newcastle United, has died at the age of 75.

A statement from Shepherd’s family confirmed he “sadly passed away peacefully at his home” on Monday night, and concluded: “At this difficult time the family have asked that their privacy be respected.”

Shepherd was a director of the Magpies from 1992, serving as vice-chairman to Sir John Hall while the club earned promotion in 1993 and then competed in the upper reaches of the Premier League, finishing as runner-up in the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons.

Before assuming the chairmanship in 1997, Shepherd was credited as being pivotal in orchestrating the 1992 hiring of Kevin Keegan as manager, and the then-world record £15-million swoop for Alan Shearer in 1996. Both became prominent names in Newcastle’s history, while Shearer – the Premier League’s all-time highest scorer with 260 goals – clearly relished in representing his hometown team.

So sad to hear my great friend and former @NUFC chairman Freddy Shepherd has passed away. I owe him a huge debt for bringing me home. RIP

Shepherd sold his 28 percent stake in the club to Mike Ashley in 2007, and subsequently stepped down as chairman. Although he never led Newcastle to any silverware during his involvement with the club, he presided over one of the most thrilling times experienced by the Toon Army.

The Shepherd family paid £250,000 for a statue of Shearer to be erected outside St James’ Park last year.

“I have had a great 15 years on the board, 10 of them as chairman and I have enjoyed every minute,” Shepherd said when he stepped down in 2007, as quoted by the Press Association. “It has been a great privilege and honour to have been chairman and I would not have missed it for the world. We have had some really exciting times and I like to think we have achieved a lot since 1992 when we took over the club.

“But it was the right time for me to stand down. And in any case, once the club was delisted, my position as chairman of the PLC became redundant. I gave it my best shot and I could not really have done any more.”

The pay bump would make Hazard the club’s highest-paid player and ward off Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Law says there’s no indication as to when an announcement will be made. However, both parties apparently feel optimistic that a deal will get done.

Neither the club nor the player seem to be in any rush to make anything official. Hazard’s current pact lasts until June 2020, and the Belgian’s currently on his way back from ankle surgery. He’s made just a single start this season – in a League Cup fixture against Nottingham Forest.

Hazard has yet to indicate a desire to leave Stamford Bridge, even amid reported interest from Madrid. Aware of the pitfalls of joining Los Blancos, the 26-year-old said in June that he “could end up on the bench” at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“I’m good where I am now. I think I can stay at Chelsea for many years,” he added.

Hazard rediscovered himself under Antonio Conte following a bitter dispute with Jose Mourinho, thriving as an inside winger in the Italian’s 3-4-3 formation. He scored 16 goals and served up five assists as the Blues captured the Premier League title.

England midfielder Dele Alli will learn in the coming days if he is to be punished for an offensive gesture made in a World Cup qualifier against Slovakia earlier this month.

Alli, 21, said the middle-finger gesture was aimed at team-mate Kyle Walker, not an official or opponent.

A disciplinary panel for football’s governing body Fifa will look at the matter this week.

Any punishment will be communicated “a few days after the hearing”, Fifa said.

Television footage showed Tottenham’s Alli making the gesture after being body-checked by defender Martin Skrtel and referee Clement Turpin waved play on.

England, who won the game at Wembley 2-1 on 4 September, top Group F by five points from Slovakia. They host Slovenia on 5 October and travel to Lithuania three days later in their final qualifying matches.

If handed a lengthy ban, Alli could miss those matches as well as the start of the World Cup in Moscow next summer with England likely to qualify.

The Football Association had previously sent a video to Fifa in a bid to prove that the gesture was aimed at Walker.

Alli also denied the gesture had been aimed at referee Turpin, posting on social media after the match to say it was directed towards ex-Tottenham team-mate and “good friend” Walker.

England manager Gareth Southgate also supported Alli’s claim, saying: “They have a strange way of communicating.”

Simon Stone of BBC Sport reports the French international is expected to travel to Barcelona where he will undergo further examinations on the knee he injured Saturday during Manchester City’s 5-0 win over Crystal Palace.

After manager Pep Guardiola hinted that Mendy might train with the squad Monday, there was no sign of the full-back as City players prepared for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.

Instead of suiting up for City, Stone says Mendy is expected to visit knee specialist and close friend of Guardiola, Ramon Cugat, to see if any ligaments have been damaged. Cugat has previously treated other City players such as Vincent Kompany, Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne.

The injury occurred in the first half of City’s decisive win when Mendy, who arrived in Manchester last summer following a £52-million transfer from AS Monaco, came out on the wrong end of a tackle with Palace’s Andros Townsend.

The loss of Mendy for a significant period presents a major dilemma for Guardiola, who is now without a recognised left-back. However, the Spanish gaffer suggested that midfielder Fabian Delph has the ability to fill the void.

“We are going to find a solution,” Guardiola told reporters, according to ESPN FC. “(Delph) is a midfield player but he can play left-back. Fabian can help us a lot.”

The family statement said: “Freddy Shepherd, former chairman of Newcastle United and chairman of Shepherd Offshore Group and Triple S Sports & Entertainment Group, sadly passed away peacefully at his home last night.

“At this difficult time the family have asked that their privacy be respected.”

Shearer tribute

Born and bred in the North East, Mr Shepherd was the owner and managing director of the Shepherd Offshore Group for more than 40 years.

He set up the Triple S group in 2008, but is best known for his influential role at Newcastle United.

A director of the Magpies from 1992 until 2007, he served as vice-chairman to Sir John Hall as the club finished Premier League runners-up in both 1996 and 1997.

He also played a key role in appointing Kevin Keegan as manager and signing Alan Shearer from Blackburn for a then world-record fee of £15m.

The former Newcastle striker posted on Twitter: “So sad to hear my great friend and former @NUFC chairman Freddy Shepherd has passed away. I owe him a huge debt for bringing me home. RIP.”

Mr Shepherd’s family paid for a £250,000 statue of Shearer to be erected outside St James’ in September last year.

A short club statement said: “We are saddened to hear of the passing of former Newcastle United chairman, Freddy Shepherd. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Mr Shepherd and Mr Hall’s comments, which were reported by the News of the World, sparked a furious reaction from fans and fellow board members, who urged them to resign.

Both stepped down in 1998 amid threats from other directors to quit if they refused to go.

Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes said: “Freddy was an extraordinarily successful self-made millionaire who never forgot his roots in the east end of the city.

“Along with his brother Bruce he worked tirelessly to create jobs on the North Bank of the Tyne, bringing industries and skills back to life.

“He was a great entrepreneur and business leader, very forthright in his views and never shy to express an opinion, a real Geordie at heart.”